Slovakia assumes EU Presidency: what’s in it for transport?

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On 1 July Slovakia took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU from the Netherlands, setting the agenda for the next six months of its rotating Presidency. It is the first time that Slovakia has assumed this position since joining the EU in 2004.

The Slovak Presidency announced its priorities for the second half of 2016, which include:

Economically strong Europe

Modern single market

Sustainable migration and asylum policies

Globally engaged Europe

What’s on the table for transport?In transport, the Slovak Presidency’s ambition is to advance the debate on proposals in different transport areas, with a view to contributing to a ‘Single European Transport Market’.

The ‘Communication on Decarbonising Transport’ is expected to be published by the European Commission in the upcoming weeks and Slovakia, as the world leader in car production per capita, is likely to place the dossier high on its agenda.

The proposed reform of the type-approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles directive will be key and it is expected that the Presidency will work towards achieving a general Council position before the end of its mandate. This will be no easy task as Member States have expressed divergent positions and the issue is highly political. Similarly, the reduction of pollutant emissions from road vehicles could move forward under the current Presidency, after being on hold since last November.

In rail transport, the Slovak Presidency will look to approve the EU’s position on the preparation of a new Convention of the Organisation for Cooperation between Railways, by means of a Council decision.

Negotiations will continue, under the current Presidency, on the European Accessibility Act and the revision of legislation aimed at improving the protection of workers.

UITP will be closely monitoring all of these dossiers in the coming months on behalf of its members.

Click here to read the full Programme of the Slovakia Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Key dates:

19 September - Road Safety Experts Conference

14 October - TTE Transport Council

1 December - TTE Transport Council

Find out UITP activities in the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) in the brochure.

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As a passionate champion of sustainable urban mobility, UITP is internationally recognised for its work to advance the development of this critical policy agenda. UITP has a long history to its name, and is the only worldwide network to bring together all public transport stakeholders and all sustainable transport modes.